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Sources :
IThere are known Azurite deposits in Australia, Chile, England, France, Germany,
Greece, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, United States (Arizona, Pennsylvania, North Carolina
and Utah), and Zaire.
Evaluation :
Azurite is rated at 3.5 – 4 on the Moh's Scale of Hardness, meaning that this gemstone
is best suited to brooches, earrings and pendants, although it is often set in rings.
Special care
should be taken when wearing Azurite because it scratches relatively
easily.
Azurite is most frequently found in
shades of blue (ranging from light blue to dark
blue), although more rarely, Azurites that include dark red colorations are discovered.
This is referred to as the Bluebird form of Azurite. The red coloration is a result of Cuprite mixing with the Azurite. Generally speaking, the closer to “azure” blue
the stone's color is, the more valuable it is, although all Azurite is low to moderate
in price.
Common Cuts :
Azurite is most commonly shaped into cabochon and bead form. It is also used for
ornamental carvings.
Routine Enhancements :
Azurite is sometimes coated with clear, colorless wax in order to improve the overall
durability and appearance of the gemstone.
Care & Cleaning :
Being a soft gemstone, the best method of cleanig for Azurite is a dry cloth, followed
by a rinsing in warm water (no detergent & definitely no acids). Avoid both
untrasonic and steam cleaning devices.
When storing Azurite jewelry pay particular care to keep it away from other harder
jewelry / gemstones that may cause scratches on the softer Azurite stone.
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